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Just what is a retreat?
What makes a retreat conference center different from a hotel or the office?
Does a retreat cost more than a hotel?
Our group will be rather small. Will we be lost in the shuffle?
What should I look for in a retreat site?
I will be in the area. Can I just rent a room?
Do the cottages in the Grove have kitchen facilities?
Is there a restaurant on site?
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Just what is a retreat?
By definition, courtesy of the American Heritage Dictionary, a retreat is:
- a quiet, private or secure place.
- a period of seclusion, retirement or solitude.
- a period of group withdrawal for fellowship and study.
For years organizations of all types have used the retreat approach to bring members of a group closer together or when making their most important decisions. |
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What makes a retreat conference center different from a hotel or the office?
The difference is really quite substantial. At a retreat conference center, the objective is to place the purpose of the meeting first, and then build all of the support services around the reason you are bringing the group together. The results are usually dramatic!
- increased creativity often generates a better exchange of ideas and solutions
- joint creativity leads to mutual understanding, respect and confidence
- more productivity decreases the need for additional meeting time at home
- participant input increases ownership of results or actions to be taken
- trust and the freedom to take risks improves teamwork and cooperation
Now look back at the definition of a retreat and think of the environment you find at a hotel, resort or even in your office. Kind of hard to imagine those environments helping you achieve the results a retreat will, isn't it? |
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Does a retreat cost more than a hotel?
Not usually. Retreat Conference Centers actually are a more cost effective use of resources. You'll spend less time in meetings later on, the meetings you do have will be more productive and, with a Complete Meeting Package (CMP) tailored to your desires, you will have all of the service you want plus know exactly what the bill will be before you arrive!! Besides, should you pay for resort amenities you never have a chance to use anyway? |
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Our group will be rather small. Will we be lost in the shuffle?
Quite the opposite. Most retreat conference centers have less than 75 rooms and those rooms are usually designed for single occupancy. Many times your group will be the only user during a specific time period. Not every retreat will guarantee "exclusivity", but most will if you are willing to guarantee a certain level of revenue. |
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What should I look for in a retreat site?
Simply calling a facility a retreat, or conference center for that matter, does not necessarily make it so. Be sure to make a site visit if time and distance allow. Keep these items in mind and you should be able to find a retreat site that will meet your needs perfectly.
- What is the main purpose of the facility? Meetings, vacations, overnight guests? Is the staff familiar with the needs of groups?
- How far away is "far enough"? Don't spend time and money on travel that isn't necessary. A comfortable half-day commute or less is ideal.
- Make sure the meeting facilities have real walls, not folding doors. Look for break-out space, climate control and seating options that fit your needs.
- Ask about the cost of audiovisual and if the equipment is on-site. You don't want to be caught flatfooted if plans change suddenly.
- Think about your meeting agenda and the time you have set aside for recreation (yes, all work and no play does make for some dull, to say nothing of cranky, people). Does the retreat have a variety of outdoor and indoor facilities?
- Food will be critical! Be sure you check on not only quality, but timeliness of service, accommodation of dietary needs, service options and your flexibility to change meal times "on the run".
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I will be in the area. Can I just rent a room?
Because our focus is on meetings and group events, we hold out gest rooms for those events first. When we have guest rooms unused by groups we do rent to individual guest. However, reservations for individual guest rooms can only be made within 30 days of your expected arrival. |
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Do the cottages in the Grove have kitchen facilities?
No, the guest rooms in the grove are typical of a standard hotel room. In most cases they feature two double beds. All have private baths. |
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Is there a restaurant on site?
There is no restaurant that is open to the public. We have dining facilities available for groups only and meals are served only when planned in advance. |
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